If you’re looking to upgrade your beautiful Bellevue real estate, a great place to start is in the kitchen.
Although studies have shown that you won’t recoup the full costs of kitchen renovations and upgrades, you will enjoy spending more time there and will want to show it off while entertaining friends.
You don’t have to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a complete kitchen renovation. There are many upgrades you can make to your luxury Bellevue home, depending on your needs and tastes, that won’t break the bank. If you’ve wanted to make upgrades for some time, set a budget and set priorities for what upgrades will add the most to your lifestyle and enjoyment of being in the kitchen, particularly if you have a great lake or mountain view.
Also keep in mind what upgrades will catch buyers’ eyes whenever you list your home for sale in Bellevue.
Regardless of which upgrades you chose, you’ll be able to find styles, materials, and colors that evoke the gorgeous Puget Sound area.
Here are some of the more popular upgrades you can make to the kitchen in your Bellevue home:
New Countertops
You can give your kitchen an instant “wow” factor by replacing your plain, boring countertops with new, upgraded countertops that will make the room shine. Marble, quartz, and granite are the most popular materials — and are also the most expensive. If you are working on a budget, there are other, cheaper materials available, such as ceramic tile, laminate, wood, and even concrete. Do some research and shop around to find what works best for your home and your budget.
Even if you pick a cheaper material, there are a range of colors and finishes available that give your kitchen a whole new look. You can pick materials in solid colors or with flecks and grains.
New Appliances
A popular trend to spruce up houses for sale in Bellevue with a fresh look is to get new appliances. The most popular style, of course, is stainless steel. If your budget allows it, you can replace your refrigerator, stove, range, and dishwasher with beautiful new appliances that add a shine to your kitchen. If you can only afford one or two appliances at a time, pick the ones that will serve you the best. A bonus is that new appliances are energy-efficient, which will save you money on your electric bill.
Be sure to shop around for other styles, such as black matte, that can punch up the look of your kitchen.
Cabinets
While new or refurbished cabinets and drawers will be a major upgrade, some homeowners are scared off by the potential cost. However, you don’t have to completely replace your cabinets and drawers in order to achieve a fresh look for your Bellevue real estate. A new paint job will do wonders to liven up the look of tired, old cabinets, which will look even better if you install new doorknobs, pulls, handles, and hinges in popular finishes such as brushed nickel or chrome.
Another option is to keep the box structure and replace just the doors to give the look of new cabinets. A refreshing trend is to leave a few cabinets open and display dishes and other kitchenware. Or you could really open up the kitchen and replace the wood doors with glass doors.
New Lighting
You can literally shed new light on your Bellevue kitchen by upgrading the lighting. You spend a lot of time in your kitchen, so it needs to be well-lit and bright. One option that adds both great illumination and a gorgeous look is to hang a large pendant light over your island or counter. If your kitchen still has unattractive, dated fluorescent fixtures from the 1970s, get rid of them and go with recessed lighting that will open up your ceiling.
A New Floor
Many people don’t think of redoing their kitchen floor, but it can be a simple upgrade that will significantly improve the look and feel of the room, bringing a warmth that you might not have thought possible.
You’ll have a wide choice of materials, from real hardwood to laminate, cork, bamboo, and vinyl. There is a nice range of colors, styles, and textures to match up with the rest of your kitchen and the overall look of your home.
New Backsplash
A simple yet eye-popping upgrade to your Bellevue real estate is to replace the backsplash, which is a vertical surface of tiles or other material that protects the walls behind your sink, countertops, and stove. As with countertops, there is a range of materials that are available, from natural stone to man-made materials. You can achieve a beautiful look with cheaper materials, which also come in a variety of colors. Consider your budget and how the material will affect the overall look of your kitchen.
Paint
This could be the simplest, least expensive upgrade that will help give your Bellevue kitchen a fresh, new look. Rather than sticking with boring colors such as white or beige, go with a bold color to make the kitchen stand out. Visit your local paint store and work with a salesman to find a hue that gives you the sense of living in the beautiful Northwest. Get a number of swatches and attach them to the wall and look at them in both natural daylight and artificial light to pick one that will make your kitchen stand out.
New Faucet
This is another simple yet eye-grabbing upgrade for your Bellevue kitchen. Choose a new faucet to match any other new components, such as appliances and/or cabinets. Go with a modern look, such as a high-arch faucet that has a sprayer that pulls down.
This list is just a starting point. There might be other upgrades for your Bellevue kitchen that make sense, both practically and economically.
If you plan to buy or sell Washington real estate in 2021, contact DH Estates for expert guidance and advice.
